Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2012 7:04 am Post subject: Is this one of the most disturbing photos you'll see....?

.....you decide. Recent N.Korean photo depicting Kim Jong Eun recently posing for a pic with a Nork family. Since assuming power, the 'Young General' has apparently been keen to bolster his image as a benevolent and kind leader. The message obviously hasnt got through to the the women he's posing with here though.....they look to be a mix of alarmed, anxious and thoroughly frightened out of their minds. The expressions on the faces of the two women in the front are particularly unsettling.

Analyzing that picture is kind of a conundrum. Because, if they truly WERE terrified of Kim Jung Un, it seems to me that they would force themselves to smile. Since they would know that ruining the picture would be a surefire way to get sent to the camps. You'd think that at least ONE adult out of five would have had that idea.

And, it would surely be obvious to the North Koreans that the picture presents KJU in an unflattering light. So, how did it get released to the world?

I'm wondering if this is genuine, or maybe something photoshopped by South Korean intelligence(or some such interested party). Any photo experts care to offer an opinion?

Analyzing that picture is kind of a conundrum. Because, if they truly WERE terrified of Kim Jung Un, it seems to me that they would force themselves to smile. Since they would know that ruining the picture would be a surefire way to get sent to the camps. You'd think that at least ONE adult out of five would have had that idea.

And, it would surely be obvious to the North Koreans that the picture presents KJU in an unflattering light. So, how did it get released to the world?

I'm wondering if this is genuine, or maybe something photoshopped by South Korean intelligence(or some such interested party). Any photo experts care to offer an opinion?

it could have been very easily manipulated, that's definite. your explanation also makes perfect sense, especially considering this was in the Huff Post.

why on earth would NK want such a damning photo released? of course they wouldn't.

checking the domain registry of the photos themselves comes up with an LA address covering their tracks and then points to another domain registry company in Washington, also not much info. I stopped there. Clearly it's not a photojournalist nor another media website or even a blog, as what is usually linked to in HP.

so yes, you hit it on the nail - probably a disinformation photo strictly for propaganda purposes. good one tho. had me going.

Why would any Govt agency go to the trouble of altering such a photograph though? Its not like anybody either inside nor outside N.Korea holds any allusions about the regime's oppressiveness (save for a handful of nutters on S.Korea's extreme left).

Why would any Govt agency go to the trouble of altering such a photograph though? Its not like anybody either inside nor outside N.Korea holds any allusions about the regime's oppressiveness (save for a handful of nutters on S.Korea's extreme left).

Well, apart from the nutters, there's a section of South Korean public opinion which, while recognizing that the NK regime is not all that nice, is inclined to give it the benefit of the doubt on a lot of issues.

And right now, with the regime change, you probably have some of them saying stuff like "Okay, we admit the first two Kims were pretty bad, but things are really getting better up there under Jong Un". That picture, if it is a hoax, could be directed against them.

Yeah, I know it sounds kinda tenuous, but it's no crazier than believing that a photographer took a photo of Kim Jong Un standing with some people, none of the people elected to smile, and then someone with access to the photo figured it would be safe for him to post it on the internet.

And it's also possible that someone other than a government agency concocted the picture.